POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: retroMan on July 11, 2012, 12:11:43 pm
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Hi Forum. I'm wanting to move to a larger apt. in a different city. I have been living in a tiny efficiency in a special needs housing community. This is in a small closeted, military town where I only moved to for the 1 year lease to qualify for a section 8 voucher. Now, that I've satisfied that requirement I want to relocate to an area more conducive to positive socializing and dating.
How should I go about searching for a new doctor? What is the best way to choose a clinic? I want to make sure I'm continuing to get the best care.
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Hey retroMan,
I am a California native, who has lived with HIV/AIDS since 1994 and found out the hard way about levels of funding for HIV services and how they impact the individual.
Why have you chosen California over the 49 other states? Do you have friends or family already living in California? People who can help you with the difficult task of finding a new dwelling, getting the deposits (HOPWA?) organized and getting everyone paid on time? Have you chosen the city where you want to live? Will the insurances which currently cover you now, Transfer to California. Adventure In Moving is only a slogan on a rental van 8) Have the best day
Michael
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Hi Michael, perhaps I didn't clarify. I'm already in California, and already have PCIP coverage and ADAP for meds. That's the reason I wish to STAY in the state and not move to NY as I dreamed I would be able to with a section 8 voucher.
Since you mention HIV funding, I guess my question is do I stay in San Diego or move to the San Francisco Bay area? I'm only considering this move to be closer to family there.
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That's the reason I wish to STAY in the state and not move to NY as I dreamed I would be able to with a section 8 voucher.
Retro, actually you wouldn't be able to make that dream a reality as Section 8 has been frozen for years here in NYC with no new vouchers being either accepted or issued. The only way to utilize any section 8 is that you have to have a voucher specifically for use in public housing. New York State is run by a totally separate system, but I'm sure that system is similar to what's going on in the city itself with the waiting lists -- and you have to realize that the voucher will probably expire before you can even find a willing landlord, if NYS was to absorb the voucher through a transfer.
Unfortunately NY (especially NYC) is one of the toughest places to find housing when it comes to people willing to accept "programs."
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That is really good to know. I wondered about that. Thanks for sharing!
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You may want to check with a Case Manager in San Francisco. The San Francisco AIDS Foundation has been providing such services for 30 years. www.sfaf.org (http://www.sfaf.org). If you still want to move to San Francisco, you may internet search for "TNDC", who is a non-profit maintaining "affordable" apartment listings. They have SRO's (some with private bath) mostly in the Tenderloin. You should know about parking in San Francisco, there is none and very few rentals come with parking.
The City of San Francisco has a 1% vacancy rate. Houses are selling, high tech and construction are hiring and there is competition for the existing rentals and a Section 8 voucher will not open many doors. Any housing on or near shuttle routes is gone within minutes. A house on the news SOLD for $180,000 over it's asking price BEFORE the first advertising was out.
California has 52 counties of which 6 are Title I Ema's. San Diego and San Francisco are both Title I, there is no reason to think your healthcare and services would change because of the move. When I moved my healthcare to San Francisco, I read www.ucsf.org (http://www.ucsf.org), www.stmarysmedicalcenter.org (http://www.stmarysmedicalcenter.org), www.cpmc.org (http://www.cpmc.org), Kaiser and the VA site. After reading each site, I called the organization.
Being a past patient at St. Mary's in Long Beach, I knew they were the first non-profit to offer HIV care to the under served, I would get the same high quality care at St. Mary's in San Francisco as I did in St. Mary's at Long Beach, they were a top choice for me.
Another choice was the UCSF Positive 360 Clinic, which we chose because that clinic developed for the aging HIV population. I was pushing 60 at the time so i chose them. UCSF has been training Doctors for over 125 years. Who ever you get would be the best of the best! Oh ret, have you been reading the Obamacare threads? The reason I ask is healthcare is going to change, access to medications will change, depending upon who is elected and how severe will that be? 8) Have the best day
Michael
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You may want to check with a Case Manager in San Francisco. The San Francisco AIDS Foundation has been providing such services for 30 years. www.sfaf.org (http://www.sfaf.org). If you still want to move to San Francisco, you may internet search for "TNDC", who is a non-profit maintaining "affordable" apartment listings. They have SRO's (some with private bath) mostly in the Tenderloin. You should know about parking in San Francisco, there is none and very few rentals come with parking.
The City of San Francisco has a 1% vacancy rate. Houses are selling, high tech and construction are hiring and there is competition for the existing rentals and a Section 8 voucher will not open many doors. Any housing on or near shuttle routes is gone within minutes. A house on the news SOLD for $180,000 over it's asking price BEFORE the first advertising was out.
California has 52 counties of which 6 are Title I Ema's. San Diego and San Francisco are both Title I, there is no reason to think your healthcare and services would change because of the move. When I moved my healthcare to San Francisco, I read www.ucsf.org (http://www.ucsf.org), www.stmarysmedicalcenter.org (http://www.stmarysmedicalcenter.org), www.cpmc.org (http://www.cpmc.org), Kaiser and the VA site. After reading each site, I called the organization.
Being a past patient at St. Mary's in Long Beach, I knew they were the first non-profit to offer HIV care to the under served, I would get the same high quality care at St. Mary's in San Francisco as I did in St. Mary's at Long Beach, they were a top choice for me.
Another choice was the UCSF Positive 360 Clinic, which we chose because that clinic developed for the aging HIV population. I was pushing 60 at the time so i chose them. UCSF has been training Doctors for over 125 years. Who ever you get would be the best of the best! Oh ret, have you been reading the Obamacare threads? The reason I ask is healthcare is going to change, access to medications will change, depending upon who is elected and how severe will that be? 8) Have the best day
Michael
Michael, thanks for your reply. I'm actually open to East bay; Berkeley, Oakland, Alameda, etc. I don't actually have to live in SF. My nephews are in Union City (South Bay?) I was there for the Golden Gate bridge ceremony weeks ago. I'm taking another trip up to actually look at places next week, and focus more on Alameda county.
I was surprised to hear you mention St. Mary's in Long Beach. I was there from 2003-2009 and received the best care ever!
Todd
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Hey Todd,
Union City is in Alameda County so you need to look at services in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. Absolutely nothing I have sent you will apply because it is specific to San Francisco, Marin and San Mateo Counties. I have heard housing costs in Oakland are lower than in San Francisco 8) Have the best day
Michael
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They are cheaper than S.F. so is Dubin, Ca & Livermoore, Ca, both are in Alameda County, Ca due east on 580 freeway..... hope you have a car, if not B.A.R.T runs out in Dubin and runs thur Contra Costa and Alameda Counties....